National affairs
15 September 2015
Leadership coups have become an increasingly common feature of Australian politics, writes Rodney Tiffen, but the electoral results aren’t always encouraging
National affairs
15 September 2015
Tony Abbott, once a beneficiary of the new, brutally pragmatic treatment of prime ministers by their colleagues, became its victim, writes Norman Abjorensen
International
14 September 2015
Shortcomings in the Singapore government’s performance were trumped by fears about life after the People’s Action Party, writes Michael D. Barr
4 September 2015
With two opposition parties competing for Canada’s anti-Conservative vote, the result is impossible to pick, writes Jonathan Malloy in Ottawa
International
3 September 2015
A tired government faces a splintered opposition at this month’s election, writes Michael D. Barr, and fresh ideas are at a premium
International
3 September 2015
Out-of-touch Republicans are propelling Donald Trump towards the presidential nomination, argues Lesley Russell
National affairs
28 August 2015
By-elections sometimes reflect important political trends, and sometimes they don’t, writes Peter Brent. So why are we watching Canning so closely?
National affairs
25 August 2015
Nick Xenophon is breathing down the Coalition’s neck in his home state, writes Clem Macintyre. In a tight federal election, the implications could be significant
National affairs
25 August 2015
Canning might look like a safe Liberal seat on paper, but there are good reasons for the federal government to be worried, writes Peter Kennedy
National affairs
13 August 2015
His leadership again under threat, the prime minister is locked in a potentially terminal embrace with his party’s right, writes Peter Brent
National affairs
13 August 2015
Julia Gillard drew adulation at the Byron Bay Writers Festival, writes Brett Evans. It was another reminder of questions still hanging over the Labor Party
National affairs
16 July 2015
With the next election on the horizon, the pressure is on to give Labor’s carbon policy a name that sticks
12 July 2015
After five years in a bunker a wounded party faces a choice of exits, says David Hayes
National affairs
23 June 2015
With declining reach and influence, the Murdoch empire can no longer determine election results, writes Rodney Tiffen
National affairs
19 June 2015
Labor’s state election successes during the Howard era propelled ill-equipped party heavies into Canberra, writes Peter Brent. The Killing Season is showing us some…
15 June 2015
Having won the war against the Tamil Tigers and governed with an iron grip, Mahinda Rajapaksa seemed impregnable, reports David Corlett. But behind the scenes a movement…
Books & arts
15 June 2015
Books | Stuart Macintyre’s history of Australia in the 1940s is a big book in the best sense
Essays & reportage
1 June 2015
The electoral cycle is made up of rituals, both elaborate and everyday. Understand them and we will better understand democracy itself, writes Graeme Orr in his new book
National affairs
29 May 2015
Opposition leaders generally get a positive swing at their first election, writes Paul Rodan. Bill Shorten will probably need more than that
From the archive
20 May 2015
Michael Cooney’s account of his years as prime ministerial speechwriter helps explain what went wrong
12 May 2015
A different kind of British election yielded a familar result, writes James Jupp in Britain
9 May 2015
A purgative election has cleared the way for even bigger contests to come, says David Hayes
National affairs
7 May 2015
Despite the policy differences, the Greens have important things in common with the major parties, writes Peter Brent
International
7 May 2015
The Republicans are entering a toxic period of jostling for the presidential nomination, writes Lesley Russell. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton faces no real challenger
6 May 2015
An odd election campaign ends with nationalists becoming unionists and radicals conservatives, writes David Hayes
2 May 2015
A wary, data-driven, Scotland-focused contest gives voters no lead, says David Hayes
22 April 2015
Britain’s election is a blind date with destiny, says David Hayes
National affairs
2 April 2015
Unexpected wins in 1993, 1998 and 2001 have distorted the way we interpret election results, writes Peter Brent. The effects are still influencing how political players…
National affairs
30 March 2015
Once the natural party of government, the Liberal Party has been performing badly across Australia for thirty years or more, writes Tim Colebatch. Mike Baird has shown…
Podcasts
29 March 2015
The Coalition has won a convincing victory in New South Wales. Stephen Mills talks to Peter Clarke about the result and its implications